Die structure for metallic cartridge belt links



Aug. 29, 1950 F. GOLDFISHER 2,520,395

DIE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CARTRIDGE BELT LINKS Filed March 24, 1944 v s Sheets-Sheet 1 71'1513 cf Li FYQED GOLDF/SHEB Aug. 29, 1950 F. GOLDFISHER 2,520,396

DIE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CARTRIDGE BELT LINKS Filed March 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 9, 1950 F. GOLDFISHER 2,520,396

DIE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CARTRIDGEBELT LINKS Filed March 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FPED GOLDF/SHE/Q,

Aug. 29, 1950 F. GOLDFISHER 2,520,396

DIE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CARTRIDGE BELT LINKS Fil'ed March 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fe 50 GOLDF/SHE/B Patented Aug. 29, 1950 DIE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CARTRIDGE BELT LINKS Fred Goldfisher, Chicago, 111., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application March 24, 1944, Serial No. 527,974

4 Claims.

The present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 480,287, filed March 24, 1943, for Die Structure for Metallic Cartridge Belt Links, which application has been abandoned in favor of this present application.

My invention relates to metallic belt links such as the type disclosed in Laystrom et al. Patent No. 2,286,286, dated June 16, 1942. In my copending application Serial No. 477,530, filed March 1, 1943, now Patent No. 2,426,448 dated Aug. 26, 1947, I disclose a link of this type to which I have added improved means for anchoring the ends of loops, particularly the hinge loop, to the link body so as to prevent opening of the loops or pulling away of the ends thereof from the link body when the link is subjected to longitudinal tension during service in a bel In the link disclosed in my copending application referred to, the means for anchoring a loop end to the link body comprises a headed member on the body and a slot in the loop end for receiving the headed member, together with a tie portion on the loop end spanning the neck of the headed member to hold the headed member intimately in the loop slot.

A purpose and object of my present invention is to provide cooperatingdie members which, during the final bending of the embryo link tongues into link loops, will effect the interconnection of the headed member and slot elements for anchoring loop ends to the body.

Another object of this invention is to provide in the formation of a belt link of the general type described a novel process for eiiecting the interlocking of the free end of the hinge loop with the body portion.

Several die structures have been designed for forming links of the type referred to, as, for example, die structure disclosed in the pending application of Fernlund et al. Serial No. 445,996, filed June 5, 1942 (Patent No. 2,355,964, issued August 15, 1944), and with slight alterations and additions to such die structure, my improved links can be eliiciently and economically manufactured. On the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention applied to such die structures in which arbors operating between a die element and a punch element received embyro links with the anchorage or interlocking elements thereon, and in cooperation with the die and punch elements bend the tongues of the embryo links into final circular or loop form and coincidently lnterengage the interlocking elements for anchoring loop ends to the link body.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the end of a stock band showing the formation of the embryo links with the interlocking elements thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of an embryo link which has been severed from the stock band and which is to be subjected to die operation for bending of the tongues into loops and at the same time interlocking the interlocking elements;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embryo link after partial bending of its tongue toward circular or loop form;

Figure 4 is a side view of a finished link;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a finished link;

Figure 6 shows the link just before the end of a loop is brought into interlocking engagement with the link body;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the die, punch and arbor elements which receive the embryo links;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front elevation showing, by dotted lines, the punch element displaced from the arbor element and, by full lines, engagement of the punch element with the arbor element for partial bending of the embryo link tongues;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the die element which receives the partially bent tongues for final bending thereof into loop form and engagement of the interlocking elements when the punch and arbor elements shown on Figure 9 are moved downwardly;

Figure 11 is a lower end view of the punch and arbor elements with a completed link thereon;

Figure 12 is a lower end view of the punch element;

Figure 13 is a section on plane XIII-XIII of Figure 16; t

Figure 14 is a section on plane XIV-XIV of Figure 16;

Figure 15 is a plan view of the die element;

Figure 16 is a section on plane XVI XVI of Figure 7; showing the punch and die elements in engagement;

Figure 17 is a section on plane XVIXVI of Figure 7 showing the punch element in connection with the arbor element for holding of an embryo link thereon and for partial bending of the link tongues towards circular form;

ure 18 is a section on plane XVI-XVI of Figure 7 of the die element;

F g e 19 is a side view of the lower end of the embryo link holding and interlocking bar;

Figure 2b is an enlarged perspective View of he interlocking elements, of the link just before they are brought into engagement;

Figure 21 is a similar view of the same elements after engagement; and,

Figure 22 is an enlarged partial section taken on the same plane as Figure 16', illustrating the manner in which the shoe cooperates to bring the interlocking elements into engagement.

The link shown on Figures 4 and 5 is the iniproved link of my copending application referred to hereinbefore, the link comprising a body part H] from whose ends at one side thereof extend the cartridge receiving loops i i and i2, and from whose other side extends the hinge loop is, the end of the hinge loop having the slot it (Figure 6) for receiving the extension it on the link body terminating in a head it, the tie portion It at the end of the loop being deflected around the extension behind its head during the final ben ing of the loop into circular form.

By a slight modification of die elements such as disclosed in the Fernlund et al. application hereinbefore referred. to, the slot i l and the em tension it may be readily formed in the stock hand during progressive formation of the embryo link, as shown on Figure 1, Figure 2 showing a finished embryo link whose tongues are to be bent to final circular or 100p form for engagement of the slot i l and extension is for looking or anchoring of the loop end to the link body.

Figures 7 to 19 show substantially the die structure of the Fernlund et a1. application refer ed to for performing the bending of the embryo link tongues into loops, but with modification and addition for adapting such die structure for also affecting the interengagement of the interlocking elements on the link. The punch element P is supported on the punch block 88 and the die element D is mounted on the die block it as best shown on Figure 16. The forming arbors 2i; and El extend from a supporting block 22 which is vertically movable downwardly on posts 23 against the resistance of springs means (not shown) but disclosed in the Fernlund et a1. application hereinbefore referred to.

As shown on Figures 1, 2, and .3, while the embryo link is being formed, the link body and the adjacent inner ends of the tongues for the loops 2 l and it are deflected downwardly to form a V bend M which presents the transverse channel 25. As shown on Figures 9 and 10, when the punch member P is in its upper position indicated by the dotted line on Figure 9, the embryo link is fed in over the arbors with the V bend extending down between the arbors and the tongues of link extending laterally outwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures l2, l6, and 17, the punch element P has the forming surfaces 26, 271', and 28, the surfaces 26 and 2 3 cooperating with the arbor and the surface 23 with the arbor 2i. Extending through the punch element from between the surfaces 26, 2?, and surface 26, is the guideway 2t for the holding bar as, the bar terminating in a cup-shaped head 3! movable in the recess 32, a spring 33 between the head and the punch block l8 tending to hold the bar 3'? shifted outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9. The bar has the tapered or V-shaped end 3 3 for fitting into the charmel '25 of the embryo link supported on the arbors, as shown on Figure 17. When the punch block with the punch element P is moved downwardly from the dotted position shown in Figure 9, the bar 30 is held out by the spring 33 until its beveled end engages in the embryo link channel 25, and. then as the punch member continues its downward movement the spring pressure will hold the bar against the link to keep it accurately seated on the arbors preparatory to engagement of the surfaces 26, 27, and 28 on the punch element with the link.

In its lower end, the bar 38 has a rectangular slot 35 in which is located the locking shoe 36 which effects the interlock between the slot M and the extension it on the link. This shoe is of a width to engage through the space between the cartridge receiving loops II and I 2 of the link and is fulcrumed on a pin 3! extending through the bar. As shown on Figures 16 and 17, the shoe is of a thickness sufiiciently less than the width of the guideway 29 so that the shoe may rock a distance on its supporting pin. The shoe terminates a distance below the end of the bar 39 and is tapered to follow substantially the at the bar end. On its rear side, the end of the shoe has the inclined or wedging surface 3% and on its opposite side, in front of the surface, the shoe has the recess 39 for receiving the tie portion H which spans the end slot in the end of the loop which is to be anchored to the link body.

Referring to Figures 10, 15, 16, and 18, the die element D has the forming faces 4!! and 4!, and the faces 353 and M receiving the loop tongues ii and E2 and the surface 42 receiving the hinge tongue 63 when the punch element P together with the arbor block is moved downwardly with the punch block l8, these tongues being then bent around the respective arbors to form the finished link. Between the die faces 4B and Al the die member D has the inclined 0r wedging surface G3 which is engaged by the wedging surface 38 on the locking shoe during the final engagement of the punch member P and die member D. Referring to Figure 17, when the punch member P is moved down to receive the arbors, the tapered end of the bar 3b engages in the link channel 25 at the bases of the loop tongues ii and i2, and the projecting ends of the shoe 36 come alongside of the extension [5 on the link body with its recess 39 in alignment with the extension behind its head 16. As the punch member and the arbor block now move downwardly (Figures 17 and 18) the link tongues, which were partially bent down around the arbors by the punch member, will encounter the surfaces Gt, ii, and :12 of the die member D and the tongues will be deflected around the arbors. Just before the wedge surface 38 at the end of the locking shoe 36 engages with the wedging sunface 43 on the die member D, the end of the hinge loop tongue it will have been deflected around the arbor 2| for reception in the tongue slot id of the extension i5, and then, during the final movement of the punch element and arbors into engagement with the die member D, the wedge surface 38 on the shoe will engage the wedge surface 53 on the die member for rocking of the shoe to force its end portions at opposite sides of the recess 39 into engagement with the ends of the tie portion [1 at the end of the loop to force the ends of the tie portion around and against the side edges of the extension it behind its head 15, to effect the interlock between the loop end and the link body, this final movement of the die structure and the shoe being shown on Figures 13, 16 and 22.

. Referring to Figures 15, 16, and 18, a spreader 45 backed by a spring it, extends through the die member D between the die faces it and M to engage between the loop tongues H and i2 of the embryo link to provide the proper distance between the tongues as they are bent to form the loops.

I have thus provided simple means on die structure for effecting interlock of a loop end with the link body during the final forming of the link loops. I do not desire to be limited to the exact means shown as changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention,

It is, or" course, inconsequential whether the headed extension or the cutout be formed on the body. Also it is clear that my invention may be employed in whole or in part in conjunction with other link forming mechanisms in addition to the one herein shown for illustrative purposes.

While the general construction disclosed comprises a very satisfactory means for efiecting the interlocking of the body and the free end or ends of a loop forming tongue or tongues, it is, of course, evident that it is only one of a plurality of means which may possibly be employed in executing my novel process for interlocking a loop end with a link body. My said process which may also be carried out manually, for example, comprises in its preferred form the formation of the tie element ll into a crowned or dome shape ilc. The direction of the crown is such that a recess is provided on the inner face of said tie and is preferably of dimensions such that said recess is capable of at least partially receiving, the head portion is of the extension to so that said head may be thrust into registration with the cutout :4 through a path which passes said tie on the inner face side thereof and without those portions of the link which adjoin the ends of said tie being spaced from support or other structure a distance equal to the full thickness of the material from which said head is formed. In practicing my unique process I normally form a cutout such as is having a tie portion such as H on either the body portion of the link or on the general free end portion of a loop forming tongue and an extension such as i5 having a head such as if; on the other of said link portions. Either simultaneously with the formation of the cutout or at some other time, I provide the tie i! with a crowned contour Ha. as heretofore mentioned. I then cause the said tongue end and said body portion to approach one another generally edge to edge and continue their relative motion to cause the head of the extension to pass, at least in part, through the recess provided by the crowning of said tie, into registration with the cutout. Thereafter, with said head received in said cutout I proceed to mold at least some of those portions of the tie which are not coextensive with portions of the extension proper into position behind said head whereby substantial movement of said head in one direction will cause engagement of portions of the edges thereof with edge portions of said tie. The exact shape of the head it is of course immaterial as concerns both my novel process and my forming apparatus and the effective or looking edge thereof may be disposed en tirely on one side of the extension proper.

Although I have described specific embodiments of my invention for illustrative purposes, it is clear that modifications and eliminations which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art; therefore, I desire to be limited herein only by the appended claims.

I claim.

1. In a die structure for final forming of a finished link of the type disclosed, a pair of arbors adapted to support an embryo link provided with a single tongue extending laterally from one edge of a central body portion and a pair of tongues extending laterally from the other edge thereof, a punch member above said arbors, a, die member below said arbors cooperable with said arbors to bend the tongues of the embryo link into loops and to bring a slot spanned over by a tie portion in said single tongue into position to receive a headed extension formed on said body portion, a shoe pivotally mounted on said punch member having a recess brought into alignment with said tie portion during the final movement of said punch member, and cooperating wedge surfaces on said shoe and said die member effective during the final movement of said punch member to force said shoe against the ends of said tie member to intimately deflect said ends around the edges of said extension behind the head thereon whereby to lock the loop end to the body.

2. In die structure for final forming of a finished link of the type disclosed, a pair of arbors adapted to support an embryo link having with a pair of tongues extending from one edge and a single tongue extending from the other edge, there being a slot spanned over the outer end of single tongue by a tie portion and a headed extension on said body for reception in said slot during final formation of said link, a punch member above said arbors and a die member below said arbors cooperable with the arbors upon downward movement of the punch member to bend the tongues into loops and to bring said slot into position to receive the extension on said body, a bar slidable in said punch member and a spring tending to shift said bar outwardly, said bar being tapered at its outer end to engage in said embryo link channel under pressure of said spring to hold said embryo link on the anchors and having a slot in its outer end, a shoe in said slot engageable with the embryo link body adjacent to the extension thereon, s shoe having a recess for receiving the tie portion on said single tongue as said single tongue is bent into loop form around the corresponding arbor to bring the slot into position to receive said extension, and a wedging be on said die member engaging said shoe during the final movement of said punch member for forcing said shoe adjacent to its recess into engagement with the ends of said tie portion to intimately engage said ends around said extensiobehind the head thereon whereby to lock said single loop end to the link body.

3. Die structure for final forming of a finished link of the type disclosed, comprising a pair of arbors adapted to support embryo link having a bony with a pair of tongues extending from one edge and a single tongue extending from. the other edge, there being a slot spanned over the outer end of said single ton ue by a tie portion a headed extension on said body for reception in said slot during final formation of said link, a punch member above said arbors and a member below said arbors cooperable with the arbcrs upon downward movement of the punch member to bend the tongues into loops and to bring said slot into position to receive the extension on said body, a bar slidable in said punch member and a spring tending to shift said bar outwardly, said bar being tapered at its outer end to engage in said embryo lin-k channel under pressure of said spring to hold said embryo link on the arbor and having a slot in its outer end, a shoe in said slot fulerumed therein for swing at right angles to the axis of the arbors, said shoe having a recess for alignment with said tie portion after said single tongue has been bent around the corresponding arbor by said die memher to bring its slot into engagement with said extension, and cooperating wedging surfaces on said shoe and said die member effective during the final movement of punch member to swing said shoe into engagement with said tie portion to deflect the tie portion ends intimately around the edges of said extension behind the head thereon whereby to lock the loop end to the body.

4. Die structure for final forming of a finished link of the type disclosed, comprising a pair of arbors adapted to support an embryo link having a body with a pair of tongues extending from one edge and a single tongue extending from the other edge, there being a slot spanned over the outer of said single tongue by a tie portion and a headed extension on said body for reception in said slot during final formation of said link, a punch member above said arbors and a die member below said arbors cooperable with the arbors upon downward movement of the punch member to bend the tongues into loops and to bring said slot into position to receive the extension on said body, a bar slidable in said punch member and a spring tending to shift said bar outwardly, said bar being tapered at its outer end to engage in said embryo link channel under pressure of said spring to hold said embryo link on the arbors and having a slot in its outer end, a shoe fulcrurned in said slot to terminate adjacent to said extension when said punch member receives said arbors, and cooperating wedge surfaces on said shoe and said die member effective during final movement of said. punch member relative to said die member for causing said shoe to engage with the ends of said tie portion to deflect said ends intimately around the edge of said extension behind the head thereon whereby to lock the loop end to the link body.

FRED GOLDFISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 156,548 Davis Nov. 3, 1874 451,489 De Jonge May 5, 1891 461,268 McCool Oct. 13, 1891 563,932 Leavenworth July 14, 1896 948,551 Rigby Feb. 8, 1910 1,686,537 Schneider Oct. 9, 1928 2,266,997 Sherman Dec. 23, 1941 2,293,715 Crane Aug. 25, 1942 2,355,964 Fernlund Aug. 15, 1944 2,355,992 Moinichen Aug. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 527,157 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1940 

